(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate articulation and seamless integration of California’s postsecondary institutions by facilitating the adoption and integration of a common course numbering system among the public and private postsecondary institutions. The purpose of building and implementing a common course numbering system is to provide for the effective and efficient progression of students within and among the higher education segments and to minimize duplication of coursework.

(b) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) Effective transfer programs provide a clear path for obtaining the preparation necessary for upper-division major coursework and graduation at a four-year college or university. The segments have made significant progress in developing articulation agreements that specify required coursework and other academic preparation necessary for transfer students to succeed at a four-year institution. These articulation agreements are essential to provide the basis for a common course numbering system that facilitates transfer student success.

(2) In implementing this article, the public postsecondary educational institutions and other parties involved should assess programs and build upon those proving to be the most effective in communicating articulation, such as the California Articulation Number (CAN) system, the Intersegmental Major Preparation Articulated Curriculum (IMPAC) project, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), and the Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer (ASSIST).

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 737, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.)